Bedford lost out on an Emirates FA Cup 1st round spot on Tuesday evening, losing out on the lottery of penalties, as Cray Wanderers won the spot kicks by 4-3. To get there, after the side’s 0-0 draw on Saturday, the replay ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, with a final score of 2-2 at the end of extra time.
Adding to the injury list of Junior Gyamfi and Greg Taylor, Eno Nto, who was injured on Saturday when shoved into the hoardings, was also absent. Take out Ryan Doherty, who is now overseas, and Harry Smart had some juggling to do, giving the centre back roles to Lewis Franklin and Tarik Gidaree, and both slotted into the role very smoothly.
Manny Duku and Ben Weyman were both given starts.
The game, itself, was a much better spectacle than the original, as both sides kept going for the 120 minutes of play.
Bedford had the better of early play, with a George Moncur shot giving Jasper Briggs an early test.
Cray took the lead on 17 minutes, when a corner was only half cleared, picked up by Ola Ogunwamide, who took on the defence before letting fly from the edge of the area.
Just after the half hour, Franklin put a curling effort just wide.
In added time the Eagles equalised from the spot. Before that, a Moncur free kick forced a good save off Briggs, and from the resulting corner, the referee spotted a foul in the area. Moncur stepped up, and sent Briggs the wrong way to restore parity.
Bedford kicked off the 2nd half with Josh Castiglione trying his luck from the halfway line, and the ball just cleared the bar, worrying Briggs all the way.
An angled shot from Moncur went just wide, then a corner was played to David Hicks, on the edge of the area, and Briggs had to punch the shot away.
Moncur then set up Castiglione, and his effort took a slight deflection that Briggs had to readjust to save.
At the other end, Ade Yusuff homed in on goal after winning the ball, but shot wide.
Although frenetic, the game didn’t produce any goalworthy action for about 15 minutes, and in the 74th, a Bedford free kick was played to the edge of the area for Hicks to head, but Briggs saved.
No one took the initiative to score a last minute winner, and extra time was needed.
Cray had the first effort after a defended corner, with a shot coming from about 20 yards out and converted over the bar.
Laurie Walker then had to save from Yusuff.
Bedford took the lead in the 101st minute. The ball was sprayed around the edge of the box before Franklin found Moncur just inside on the left. Bedford’s top scorer then found Reece Evans on the six yard line, and he held off his marker to swivel and fire past Briggs.
The lead lasted just three minutes, when Lateef Adaji burst through to the right of the area, and with Walker the last man, drew a foul that resulted in a penalty. Yusuff equalised from the spot, although Walker managed to get a hand to the ball.
The 2nd period saw a lovely Walker save, from Ogunwamide, before Soul Kader went down in the area during a corner. For the third time in the game, the referee pointed to the spot.
Yusuff took the penalty, and Walker produced a great save.
The last two bits of action saw Finley Wilkinson firing just over from the edge of the area, then Walker producing another fine save.
The game was now in the hands of ten penalty takers and two goalkeepers.
Bedford went first with a goal from Wilkinson, before Yusuff slotted home.
Louie Kudiabor then saw his shot saved, before Alfie Payne gave the advantage to the home side.
Briggs then saved Joe Payne’s kick, and Ogunwamide put the ball wide.
Moncur and Kader then both scored, setting up the last penalties.
Evans kept Bedford in the game with his kick, but Jakob Lowe scored to send Cray into the next round.